Dr Enrico Weller believes that it is an exaggeration to suggest that the people in Musicon Valley have some inborn fascination for instruments and music. However, it is almost impossible to avoid these factors in Markneukirchen.

Music has always played a role in the life of the town’s musical director. As a child, he was often able to hear the pleasant sounds of the old barrel organs and hurdy-gurdies in the Musical Instrument Museum directly opposite his parents’ house in the morning. His ancestors were musical instrument makers and his mother sang in the church choir. It therefore came as no surprise that his journey through life first took him to the Robert Schumann Conservatory in Zwickau and then to the university there.

He now teaches music and German at the grammar school in Markneukirchen; it specialises in music and seeks to enthuse the young pupils in grades 5 and 6 about music and playing instruments. Enrico Weller leads the young brass band classes, organises the final year concert with them and tries to pass on his passion to the next generation.

“With our musical emphasis at the school, we’re able to interest the young people in an instrument at a very early age. We lay a foundation. That’s important, because there are very many instrument-making companies in Markneukirchen.”

Some former pupils from the grammar school in Markneukirchen are now working in the musical instrument-making sector too.

Many young people still find music and an instrument attractive nowadays.

“We’ve created the environment and the conditions for this ourselves,” says the father of five children. The young people are able to demonstrate their skills in musical projects, concerts and other events, like the Christmas Oratorio; and the pupils in the senior classes can exhibit their practical knowledge.

However, there are also plenty of opportunities available for musically talented youngsters outside the school, like the music school or the town’s own symphony and brass orchestra. Enrico Weller not only conducts the latter, but has also been in charge of it for 20 years.

The 46-year-old is very active in his home town in other respects too. As a renowned academic, he is conducting research into musical instrument making in the Vogtland region and is a member of the board of the Association of the Friends and Supporters of the Musical Instrument Museum – the institution that has accompanied him since his childhood.

“I don’t wish for anything else for Markneukirchen. Everything is actually in place. But we need to develop what we’ve inherited. It’s my wish that the museum would become something fantastic again, where visitors are really captivated by the history of musical instrument making,” Weller says.

“There’s already a vast treasure of instruments there. But we mustn’t lose our professional standards. Students and experts should be able to get their money’s worth there too,” he adds. “The association is also providing ideas on how to continue developing the musical instrument museum that has existed since 1883.”

Vita Dr. Enrico Weller

• Born in Oelsnitz/V. on 28 May 1972
• 1978-1986: Attended polytechnic secondary school in Markneukirchen
• 1986-1988: Robert-Schumann Conservatory in Zwickau (main subject: clarinet)
• 1988-1994: Studied to become a teacher at Zwickau University
• 1994-1996: Trainee teacher at Markneukirchen grammar school
• 1996-1997: Teacher at Carl-von-Bach grammar school in Stolberg
• Since 1997/1998 Teacher at Markneukirchen grammar school
• 2003: Gained his doctorate (Dr. phil.) at the music science faculty of Chemnitz University of Technology